Tuff Love have had a tremendous year, playing some of the most prestigious festivals in the country, including Glastonbury and T in the Park, and opening up for some of Glasgow’s hottest bands such as PAWS and Honeyblood.
Next year is set to be just as hectic for the duo with the release of their second EP, Dross, a follow up to this year’s excellent home-recorded effort, Junk.
Their scuzzy, summery pop sounds have made them one of the year’s most hotly tipped live acts and a ravechild favourite.
While we must wait until February for the new EP, Tuff Love has given us a taster in the form of ‘Slammer’.
The tune bobs along on a laidback bassline groove with chicken-picking guitars in the verses, overladen with Tuff Love’s trademark harmonies from Julie Eisenstein and Suse Bear.
The choruses explode with fuzzy overdrive, with Eisenstein singing “I’ve got rage” in a cold, understated manner that complements the bold lyric, which could have easily been overblown.
Although still self-recorded in Bear’s flat, ‘Slammer’ is a jump forward in production, with a less lo-fi sound than heard on Junk, which is only a positive thing, with the band’s DIY credentials beyond reproach.
If this sneak peak is anything to go by then Dross is set to be a real treat and something to look forward to in the New Year.
Words: Callum McSorley
